Pilgrims sang the Psalms of Ascent as they journeyed to Jerusalem. These songs are full of raw humanity, corporate history, and tender hope. Even to this day, they lead us in a journey to the center of God’s presence and plan for his people. Psalm 126 is well known in this collection as it rejoices in God’s past actions and prays for future and final restoration.
The Persian King Cyrus ended the Babylonian exile in 538BC by allowing God’s people to return to Jerusalem. He also decreed that a temple should be built. Read Ezra and Nehemiah for that great story. The phrase “restore our fortunes” may refer directly to the Jews’ return from captivity or exile as translated by the NASB. Deuteronomy 30:3 also uses the same language when describing the covenant blessings and curses, which foretold an eventual return from exile. To be sure, the application and use of this psalm is broader, but the first meaning is likely their return from Babylonian exile.
What good news for God’s people! In their return from exile, God made good on his covenant promise in Deuteronomy 30. The result was pure joy and vindication of God’s name amidst the nations. Vs 1-2 describes mood of the people well. It was so good it almost seemed like a dream. Think to that final scene from Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. Frodo finally wakes up to be joined with shouts of laughter with his hobbit companions. So stark is the contrast of joy against the previous dark journey. Peter Jackson fames the scene as dreamlike with ethereal light, muted dialogue, and slower passing of time. Such was the return of God’s people to the land.
Verses 2-3 also describe an important but often missed purpose of the covenant. The nations surrounding Israel praised God for the deliverance of his people. One of the purposes of Israel’s election was to make God known to the world. This is Israel’s vocation and continues to be for all God’s people. Ezekiel 36, another great chapter about the restoration of Israel, clearly explains how God restores his people so that the onlooking nations will rightly know their God. The nations see God by his actions (restoring fortunes) and Israel’s reaction (joy and praise).
The latter half of the Psalm clearly shows us the context in which the author writes. Despite the captives returning from Babylon, all is not well – so much so that it’s appropriate to pray again for God’s restoration. Like only the Psalms can do, Psalm 126 holds in tension the joy of God’s past deliverance with the present need. Verse 4 asks for blessing and abundance using a simile with streams in the desert (the Negeb). When rains finally came to the desert region between Egypt and Southern Israel, the streams of water brought life and prosperity.
The psalmist prays with faithful expectation in vs. 5-6 knowing that God will remember and act on his promises. Like a farmer who weeps as he sows the year’s crop in dry soil, God will provide a joyful harvest. For an agrarian society, a good harvest meant the world to the community. Food in abundance provided not just for the farmer and those to whom he sold it but to the poor who were allowed to glean the fields (Leviticus 19:9). A joyful harvest means shalom!
Psalm 126 is ripe with nourishment for the Christian. As with all psalms, it’s appropriate to read them in light of Jesus and the Spirit. God answered the psalmist prayer. Jesus’ resurrection provides a rich inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade (I Peter 1:3). The Spirit is the down payment or guarantee of this inheritance until we obtain it in fullness (Ephesians 1:13-14). Such a secure “fortune” causes joy. No wonder joy is the second fruit of the Spirit!
Yet just like the psalmist, anyone with their eyes open sees the sorrow and proverbial drought in our world. This psalm gives voice to those who feel the tension between the present and future world. We sow the seeds of Christ’s kingdom in tears holding on to the promise that one day our tears will cease (Revelation 21:4). Paul describes it well in 2 Corinthians 4-6. The well-worn words of Psalm 126 help us pray when we don’t know how. It gives us comfort to know that if God answered the psalmists prayer, he will answer ours.
Psalm 126 gives voice to those who feel the tension between the present and future world. Let us pray its words with faithful expectation, knowing that God will remember and act on his promises. Click To Tweet
